April 02, 2026

App Store: Do Svidanya, VPNs!


App Store: Do Svidanya, VPNs!
Only use by Kremlin permission. The Russian Life files.

On March 28, Apple removed four VPN services from the Russian version of its App Store. Roskomnadzor, the government agency that regulates communications and the internet, pressured the American company to block the apps. 

Since the start of Russia’s War on Ukraine, the Kremlin has heavily surveilled and controlled Russian cyberspace. Virtual Public Networks (VPNs) became a vital tool to access banned content, from apps to websites and podcasts. And while the apps are not explicitly banned in Russia, using them to access "extremist" content can result in fines of R50,000 to R500,000 ($612 to $6,122).

The programs taken down were the VPNs Streisand, V2Box, v2RayTun, and Happ - Proxy Utility. The developers of v2RayTun published a screenshot of the letter from Apple that read, “We are writing to notify you that your application, per the demand of Roskomnadzor, will be removed from the Russia App Store because it includes content that is illegal in Russia, which is not in compliance with App Review Guidelines.”

This is not the first time Apple has complied with Roskomnadzor's orders. In November 2024, Apple blocked access to podcasts from the Russian-language BBC and the independent publications The Insider and Ekho Moskvy. Apple said that it censored the podcasts and apps to continue distributing content in Russia. NGO Reporters without Borders called on the American company to not obey “bodies that do not comply with international standards of freedom protection.”

According to the AppleCensorship project, the American tech firm has blocked 724 apps in the “utilities” category in Russia, including VPNs. 

You Might Also Like

Russia's War on Metal
  • March 30, 2026

Russia's War on Metal

Raids, fear, and censorship: Russia's metal scene faces pressure as authorities target concerts, fans, and artists.
Defender of the Grill
  • March 29, 2026

Defender of the Grill

A Russian woman sued for the illegal distribution of her dacha recipes, and won.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955